THE GISTOne of Australia’s most well-known craft breweries, Little Creatures, are to open a 6,000 square foot brewery and taproom in Hong Kong’s Kennedy Town. The brewery will be headed up by brewer Tom Champion and will serve food from a menu designed by chef Krystof Bandel.

WHY IT MATTERSAsia is one of beer's strongest and fastest growing markets. According to The Drinks Business Hong Kong has seen a surge of interest in homebrewing and a younger generation of drinkers are turning away from big brands in favor of independently produced products.

Little Creatures was established in 2000 and in 2012 were purchased by Lion for a reported AUD$256 million ($190 million). So Little Creatures are far from small or independent, but they do produce products such as their pale ale which are a far cry from the ubiquitous Asian light lagers that Hong Kong would have been used to.

This move also puts Little Creatures on the doorstep of the world's largest beer market, China. Could this be a sign that American craft won't be the only influence on a young Chinese craft beer marketplace?